16. February 2010 by student.

In 1945, President Harry Truman asked congress to creaete a national healthcare system that would provide universal medical benefits for all U.S. citizens. The issue was debated for the next 20 years. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed into law a goverment run program that provided benefits to U.S. citizens 65 years or older. July 30th, 1965 at the medicare signing ceremony he was quoted ”No longer will older americans bedenied the healing miracle of modern medicine. no longer will illness crush and destroy the savings they have so carefully put away over a lifetime so they might  enjoy dignity in their later years.” 

Medicare is run by the Federal goverment and gives its beneficiaries basic hospital and medical coverage. Today, over 44 million Americans recieve Medicare coverage. For many of them, Medicare is the only way of accessing affordable health insurance. Because Medicare is funded by the goverment, its costs are much more accessible than purchasing individual coverage of one’s own.

The are several concerns with this goverment run health care for the elderly. People who refuse to join Medicare are not allowed to recieve their earned Socail Security benefits. That being said, Medicare pays olny about half of all heakth care costs of seniors. In 1997, 3-,840 seniors paid an avergae of $22,124 dollars, either out of pocket costs or through supplemental insurance. Medicare also does not cover the cost of long term care and nursing home facility costs, unless is related to a hospitalization or other urgent medical care. Medicare has been unable to lower he cost of out of pocket payments for seniors. In 2000, a study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found seniors paying an average of $2,510 dollars per year on out of pocket costs. This does not include home care or nursing home care. However in 1964 prior to the pass of Medicare seniors where paying 20% of their income, after Medicare was passed it lower the percent to 19% of of their income on out of pocket costs. 40 million people are now enrolled in Medicare, approximately 77 million babyboomers will begin entering Medicare in 2011. Becasue of this, Medicare is facing insufficient funding. Approximately 4 workers pay for one Medicare recipient today. The change will occur with the babyboomers entering medicare to 2.3 workers for each Medicare recipient by 2030. Medicare will face bankruptcy accornding to the current estimates, it will be insolvent by 2026.

Medicare had a noble beginning. However, it’s goals for persons over the age of 65 to have access to accessible health insurance is becoming difficult to achieve. It will become unacheivable in the future. This is one reason that we should have reform in health care, as well as decrease the dependency on goverment run programs.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

16. February 2010 by student.

Annually, it is estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked into the United States.  At home and abroad, the United States government is strongly committed to fighting human trafficking.  On October 28, 2000, a new public law called The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was launched in order to enhance pre-existing criminal penalties, and make certain benefits available to victims of severe forms of trafficking. 

Originally, trafficking began as a form of sexual slavery for women and girls.  However, it has broadened to include boys and men, and includes all kinds of forced labor.  Some forms of forced labor include agriculture, construction work, and even sweatshops.

Although we like to think that we have abolished slavery in America, it still lives on through human trafficking, which is our modern day slave trade.  The business is based on a global scale, and is nothing less than wealthy.  Worldwide, over 700,000 women are taken prisoner each year and about 50,000 of these women end up in the United States.  In remote foreign countries, fraudulent agencies tell women that they will provide them a job and work overseas, however, once in America; they find themselves trapped and forced into a life of prostitution and even drug and physical abuse. 

Most victims are lost forever, but with awareness, and knowledge of this modern day slave trade, we can work towards preventing further trafficking and protecting victims. 

Posted in Social Problems | 3 Comments »

16. February 2010 by student.

New housing complexes seem to be developing left and right, more and more cars are found on the streets, and common areas are packed with greater numbers of people.  Population is increasing right before our eyes, and it’s surprising to me that only a small percentage of people have considered what might happen when planet Earth can no longer provide housing for the human population.             

Population is strongly influenced by society and the culture you grew up in.  For example, some religious cultures believe that producing more offspring benefits the family for different reasons.  Along with religious cultures, we see TV shows and news articles depicting people like Octo-Mom or John and Kate Plus 8.  However, these are extreme cases.  If we think about it in a mathematical way, we will notice that if more offspring are produced than producers the next generation of people will have a higher population.  When following this pattern, population will continue to increase eventually causing problems.  Birthrate is not the only factor affecting population, new technology increasing life span has also impacted the rapid growth of population.  With the new medical care and information people are trying to live longer, once again creating a rise in population.  When considering all the factors the question, “How much is too much?” becomes relevant.            

What is the carrying capacity of Earth? When will it be reached? Society plays a major role in testing these questions.  We deem it acceptable to have two, three, or four kids, but is it really when considering population as a whole?  People need to start seeing the larger picture and think about the future in an environmental stand point.  When the carrying capacity is reached, arguments, or even wars will break out.  Limitations of resources such as land, food, and water will turn into life and death.  Along with resource portioning lower living standards, poor financial status, and declining education will become relevant in all cultures.  Crime will increase and safety will decrease.  If population continues on the same track as it is now, we will experience a life containing greater hardship and a devastating outcome.

Some interesting websites to view:

population clock: http://www.medindia.net/patients/Calculators/worldPopulation.asp#pop

Population graph: http://www.sustainablescale.org/AreasofConcern/Population.aspx

 (I know this picture is bad quality but if you go to sustainablescale.org you can see it more clearly)

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »